THE DOVE. 141 



mitted here, without much stronger evidence than that respectable 

 writer has produced. 



Mr. William Baxter gives another translation of the passage, re- 

 marking, ' It was the custom for the Hebrew armies, as well as the 

 Syrians and Assyrians, to have a dove for their standard ; to which 

 the Psalmist alluding, says, If you shall abide by your standard, 

 the silver-colored dove, whose wings are gilt with gold, when the 

 Almighty by its means has scattered the kings, the marks of victory 

 shall be displayed in your ensign, and your dove appear as white 

 as snow.' All interpreters have blindly followed the Septuagint in 

 this place, who, either ignorantly, or perhaps wilfully, rendered it 

 obscure ; for, being unwilling to gratify the Syrians, who worship- 

 ped a dove, with so honorable a mention of their deity, instead of 

 translating the Hebrew word, a standard, as they ought to have 

 done, they made a proper name of it, and rendered it Mount Sd- 

 mon.' 



The author of Scripture Illustrated ' enlarges upon this construc- 

 tion, and gives a new version, accompanied by remarks, which 

 elucidate other passages. These, Dr. Harris has transferred into 

 his Natural History, with a few emendations ; arid in this corrected 

 state we shall copy them here. 



After having remarked that the whole of the psalm appears to be 

 a triumphal ode for success in battle, the doctor inquires how is it 

 possible that the same persons who had put to flight these kings, 

 and had taken the spoil home to their families, should lie among 

 the pots ! How should these soldiers suffer such disgrace, and that 

 at the very time when they enjoy the victory ! This is inconceiv- 

 able ; but if we recollect that the standard of the dove was used as 

 a military ensign, and suppose it to be alluded to here, then we 

 have an entirely distinct view of the article, and may understand it 

 accordingly : 



That the dove was a miiitary ensign, may be gathered from the 

 history in the Chronicon Samaritanum, where we read that 'the 

 Romans placed a pigeon [or dove] on Mount Gerizirn, to hinder 

 them from going thither to worship with troops. Some Samari- 

 tans attempted to go up ; but the bird discovered them, and cried 

 out, The Hebrews! The guards awoke, and slew those who were 

 coming up.' Understand here a military sentry and ensign, and 

 'the dove' becomes intelligible at once. 



The paleness of the kings, who accompanied this banner, is ex- 

 tremely characteristic of their appearance when they saw their sa- 

 cred emblem cast down, and trampled on by the Israelites ; or, if 

 they themselves, in their haste cast it down, that they might flee 

 the more swiftly, the shame is equal. 



These and other considerations lead to the conclusion, 1st. that 

 the dove was certainly used as a military ensign, and 2dly, that 

 as the Assyrians were eminent and ancient worshippers of the 

 dove, it might be supposed to be appropriately their banner or 

 standard. This will authorise a translation of several passages of 

 scripture different from our present public version. 



